According to American Veterinary Medical Association, about 1 in 4 dogs will develop cancer, a rate similar to humans, and pet cancer also becomes more common as animals age.
Our pets are living longer lives due to improvements in pet nutrition, parasite prevention, vaccinations, and regular health screenings, hence cancer is now becoming more commonly diagnosed in veterinary practice. When cancer is suspected in a pet, a diagnosis and treatment plan is formulated by the veterinarian, which may comprise of:
While some cancers can be "cured", cancer treatments are often started to prolong a pet’s life, with the emphasis of the treatment being to improve the animal’s quality of life, not quantity. Your veterinarian wants you to have as much quality time together with your pet as possible and will make recommendations according to your pet’s condition and needs.